“Carmella” (fictitious name) was recently diagnosed with cervical cancer and given a poor prognosis. This is in addition to living with HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C and an opiate addiction. Aged 51, her family and friends don’t know that she has HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C. Prior to coming to HRA, she had been seeing a therapist for depression and anxiety and was on methadone replacement therapy for her addiction.

About 6 months before learning about her cancer diagnosis, Carmella lost the job she had held for many years. This left her without income or health insurance and at risk of homelessness. Shortly after losing her job she relapsed on heroine.

Carmella’s life went from bad to worse. She was pawning her belongings to buy drugs and was living from place to place with no stable income or home. Without health insurance, she was not going to see her doctors and was in danger of being discharged from her Methadone Program. She had no advance medical directives or living will.

Carmella came to HRA’s Wellness Center in crisis. She was desperate, helpless and afraid. A medical case manager completed her assessment and identified a long list of needs including medical, substance abuse and mental health treatment, food and housing assistance, other financial entitlements, and legal assistance. The medical case manager began coordinating with a social worker at the Hospital of Central Connecticut’s Oncology department for medical treatment. At the same time, the medical case manager successfully advocated for Carmella’s continuing treatment of her opiate addiction at the Hartford Dispensary.

Helping Carmella complete applications for various benefits, the medical case manager also helped her get a Lifeline phone so she could make appointments. The medical case manager connected her to a mental health provider and to Connecticut Legal Aid to prepare a living will and advance medical directive.

Connecticut’s Department of Social Services approved Carmella for SNAP and Medicaid insurance, and the U.S. Department of Social Security later approved her for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). With all of this help, Carmella is able to live independently and to keep up with all of her medical and treatment appointments.